REPORT NUMBER 64 OF THE
UTSC CAMPUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
To the UTSC Campus Council,
University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting in the UTSC Council Chamber, Arts & Administration Building on September 10, 2025 with the following members present:
PRESENT: Brian Harrington (Chair), Dorinda So (Vice-Chair), Linda Johnston (Vice-President & Principal, UTSC), Andrew Arifuzzaman, Karin Ruhlandt, Tim Tang, Sukaina Abbas, Iaroslav Abramov, Syed Ahmed, Aarthi Ashok, Folakunmi Awofisayo*, Jirociny Consalas, Sandra Daga, Kyle Danielson, Mark Fitzpatrick, Jason Glover, Elaine Khoo*, Annie Kostadinova, Tanzina Mohson*, Shennel Simpson*, Hoorik Yeghiazarian*
*remote attendance
REGRETS: Tiffany Castell, Maria de Chavez, Inaaya Imran, Sylvia Mitterl, Stephanie Perpick, Monica Sok
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Ramona Gonsalves, Sheila John, Jeff Miller, Nadia Rosemond
SECRETARIAT: Miranda Edwards (Secretary), Amanda Grant (Governance Coordinator)
IN ATTENDANCE: Varsha Patel
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair led an orientation session on the Committee’s mandate, function, and members’ responsibilities. - Overview of the Council on Student Services (CSS) Budget Process
Tim Tang, Dean of Student Experience and Wellbeing, provided an overview of the consultation, engagement, and approval process for student services fees, with the goal of providing members with the context and knowledge required to oversee related items of business.
The Dean noted that student service fees were vital to supporting and enhancing students’ academic and social experience. He noted that the process focused on aligning student investments with student needs, priorities, and campus values, while upholding principles of connection, collaboration, transparency and accessibility and while using a data-driven approach. Data was shared openly with UTSC departments, leaders, and students during the consultation process. Dean Tang emphasized that students were very much at the centre of the process, and that students were partners in the creation of the student services budget.
Members had no questions. -
Introductions & Reports of the Presidential Assessors
Karin Ruhlandt, Vice-Principal Academic & Dean
Professor Ruhlandt thanked colleagues for their support as she completed her first year as Dean. She noted the challenges that UTSC had faced over the past year including the provincial government’s ongoing tuition freeze and international student enrollment. She stated that, overall, the UTSC campus spirit remained high and noted that UTSC is better positioned than most other universities in the province to weather these and other challenges.
She explained that she managed an academic portfolio of 16 academic departments and was also responsible for admissions, strategic enrollment management, curriculum planning and reviews, faculty hiring and promotions, as well as financial operations as they related to the academic mission.
She updated the Committee that a large new class of almost 4,200 students had started this Fall, bringing the total student count at UTSC to almost 15,000. She noted that UTSC was pleased to have met its domestic enrollment goals for the first time in many years. She further noted the great talent of the incoming class.
Professor Ruhlandt reported on the great success of the Certificate in Health Studies, with an incoming class of around 900, bringing the program’s total enrolment to almost 1,700 students after only 2 years since the program’s launch.
Current initiatives within the portfolio included the development of strategies to enhance student success, a new budget model, as well as a continuing dedicated curriculum review.
This Fall, Dean Ruhlandt’s office would be engaging in an external review of experiential learning. UTSC was currently very close to achieving the provincial government’s mandate of each student in the province having at least one experiential learning opportunity during their program.
In response to a member’s question regarding the impacts on students of potential budgetary restrictions, Professor Ruhlandt noted that course delivery and student services were high priorities, and students should not expect any impact in those areas in the near future. She noted the recent additions of new courses, programs, and co-op opportunities, as well as a major expansion of summer course enrollment, that had all been introduced during the tuition freeze period. She further noted that her office was currently working with Dean Tang to expand and enhance academic and career advising services.
In response to a member’s question, Professor Ruhlandt confirmed that her office was pleased with the success of the Summer 2025 course enrollment and that her office was currently studying potential changes and enhancements for Summer 2026 based on student demand and the best methods of best offering students a path to graduation.
In response to a member’s question regarding the provincial government’s blue ribbon panel report on university funding, Professor Ruhlandt stated that she had not received any new information regarding implementation of the report’s recommendations, but that the University was in regular conversations with the provincial government regarding this matter. She noted that the University was committed to ensuring that education remained accessible and affordable and that students accepted to the University would be able to do so regardless of their financial circumstances.
In response to questions from some members regarding the international student visa issue, Professor Ruhlandt stated that she saw little chance of a change in government policy regarding international student visas in the near future. She confirmed that the University was not very restricted by the number of visas allocated to it. She noted there had been a modest increase in the number of UTSC students from the United States and that her office was involved in recruitment efforts of American students.
In response to a member’s question, Professor Ruhlandt confirmed that UTSC’s retention rate was approximately 90% and that her office was aiming to increase that rate over the coming years.
In response to a member’s question, Professor Ruhlandt discussed proposed combined degree programs for interdisciplinary subjects, such as a potential double degree program in political science and environmental sciences. She discussed the mix of strong and weak reactions from students to certain proposals, noting that the promotion of the Health Sciences certificate had been particularly strong. She further discussed the importance of student recruitment to the humanities and social sciences, noting it was crucial to have strong career advising for students in these disciplines. She concluded by stating that her office would continue to study these issues and make innovations.
Tim Tang, Dean, Student Experience & Wellbeing
Dean Tang reported that the success of Fall 2025 Orientation was a milestone for UTSC, with over 900 participants, and 66 parents attending parent sessions. Dean Tang noted the numerous special events that took place during orientation week, such as the first-ever UTSC invocation and matriculation ceremony which took place on August 29, 2025 with approximately 1,500 attendees. He further noted upcoming events such as the Get Experience Fair and Fall Clubs Fair.
Regarding student advising, Dean Tang told the Committee that UTSC’s new Course Selection Module had been viewed over 17,000 times, demonstrating the extent of its popularity. The complementary “Get Started” initiative supported 1,340 students and nearly 400 parents between May and August in choosing courses and becoming familiar with campus.
In the AccessAbility office, new student intake requests had increased by 57% and points of contact with the office (which included in person, email and phone contact) increased by 86%. In Residence and Housing, 950 students moved in on first-year move-in day with the help of a record 106 volunteers. The event was featured on Breakfast Television and CityNews.
Health & Wellness hosted its annual Healthy Campus Day with about 1,400 student and staff participants and over 30 student volunteers. Dean Tang reported that Athletics & Recreation saw 848 first-year students participate in the Athletics Challenge event – over 200 more than the previous year.
Andrew Arifuzzaman, Chief Administrative and Strategy Officer
Mr. Arifuzzaman reported to members that his office had begun its budget planning season. He explained the budget planning process and the various issues that were taken into consideration such as uncertainty in international student enrollment. He noted that he would report to this Committee frequently on budget updates.
He updated members that Indigenous House was meant to be completed by August 2025 but had been delayed and was now anticipated for final completion by the end of November 2025. Construction of the new parking structure continued to progress on time and on budget. Completion was anticipated for late 2026. The design for the new campus bookstore location was also underway.
In the week prior, Cafe Depot opened in the Sam Ibraham building and the new student lounge space opened in Bladen Wing. The student space was made fully accessible. He thanked the Scarborough Campus Student Union (SCSU) for their financial support in accomplishing that project.
In response to a member’s question, Mr. Arifuzzaman noted that parking rates were expected to normalize from the usual 10% annual increase that had taken place over recent years. His office was currently planning a new parking pricing strategy. Further updates would be provided to the Committee.
In response to a member’s question regarding capital projects, Mr. Arifuzzaman noted that there would be fewer capital projects coming forward than over the previous five years. He stated that two projects were expected to come forward in the current governance year: a new fieldhouse facility adjacent to the campus’ Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) and the “LAMP” Project (Scarborough Centre for Literatures, Arts, Media and Performance). He noted that, due to current budgetary constraints, UTSC would need to think creatively about funding future major infrastructure projects. Further updates would be provided to the Committee.
In response to a member’s question, Mr. Arifuzzaman reported that the planned construction upgrades to Military Trail were previously expected to be completed in 2015 but that the City of Toronto had since defunded the project on two occasions. There was currently no funding in place or expected completion date. UTSC continued to advocate with the City regarding this priority issue. - Report of the Previous Meeting – Report Number 63 (May 8, 2025)
The Committee voted to approve the report of the previous meeting. - Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting. -
Date of Next Meeting – Wednesday, October 15, 2025
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting would take place on October 15, 2025. -
Other Business
Members had no items of other business.
The Chair concluded the meeting by reminding members of the upcoming byelections for vacant seats on the Committee. He noted that the Call for Nominations would be distributed on September 15, 2025.
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
September 16, 2025